first practice sheets and Questions!

[motoxguy]

First off hello everyone!

Ok finally got my Iwata SBS and a few bottles of paint on Monday. This is my third day with the AB, here are a few of my practice sheets. Ok for a newbie?





Quick question...Im preparing myself for painting helmets. Id like to start practicing projects using the same technique im planning to do helmets with (masking tape, fine line tape etc). Will Bristol board be smooth and durable enough to handle this type of practice if im careful with the xacto?

[ArtWorld]

Your practice looks great!!! By the way I am not sure if I ever got to say welcome to the forum. So... Welcome to the forum and I hope you enjoy it.

I woudn't practice on bristol board for helmet experience though. Some metal panels would be more suitable or some baseball helmets or vanity plates.

The thing is most people start on sheets or paper towels, and move up to t-shirts, than plates, than baseball hemets, than motorcycle helmets, than motorcycles, than custom choppers, than cars, than hotrods, than planes. Something like that for the most part. Some people skip the process and do really well at it. You may be in that group of people.

Now if you have some automotive paint experience it helps in the custom helmet area. But to be able to pull of some wicked airbrushing on helmets it really helps a ton to be able to do details freehand as well as being able to stencil. That is where all the practice comes in to play. I still practice every day and have 5 years in airbrushing.

For the most part you are going to want something that is a hard surface, doesn't absorb paint, and that tape will work on with out wripping it up.

Don't worry others will chime in with some help and usefull insight as well.

Brad

[Kodee]

I think your practise strokes look great, but what do I know, today is day 1 for me really lol

[motoxguy]

Originally Posted by ArtWorld

Your practice looks great!!! By the way I am not sure if I ever got to say welcome to the forum. So... Welcome to the forum and I hope you enjoy it.

I woudn't practice on bristol board for helmet experience though. Some metal panels would be more suitable or some baseball helmets or vanity plates.

The thing is most people start on sheets or paper towels, and move up to t-shirts, than plates, than baseball hemets, than motorcycle helmets, than motorcycles, than custom choppers, than cars, than hotrods, than planes. Something like that for the most part. Some people skip the process and do really well at it. You may be in that group of people.

Now if you have some automotive paint experience it helps in the custom helmet area. But to be able to pull of some wicked airbrushing on helmets it really helps a ton to be able to do details freehand as well as being able to stencil. That is where all the practice comes in to play. I still practice every day and have 5 years in airbrushing.

For the most part you are going to want something that is a hard surface, doesn't absorb paint, and that tape will work on with out wripping it up.

Don't worry others will chime in with some help and usefull insight as well.

Brad

Thanks for the response Brad.
The helmet designs I am planning on doing wont be too crazy at first. Mostly lines, scallops, stripes, designs etc. Most of this will be accomplished with masking, stencils, and some creative colorways and simple shading. The detail and complicated stuff will come with time and practice. Right now I just need to start laying down some designs. I am looking for an easy, cheap, and readily available material to practice on for the helmet type stuff. I will still be using paper and stuff for fundamentals.

[lsabourin]

Moto, your stuff looks great so far. Ditto with Brad though. Not too sure where you are located but large surface stores like WalMart, Canadian Tire, etc sells really cheap baseball helmets and street hockey goalie masks. I use those for testing paints and wacky effects first. Like Brad says plates are great. You can also check with your city workers, they sometimes have left over street signs and panels that are blank. But paint, paint, paint, paint........

L

[motoxguy]

Good ideas...thanks!
Im gonna have to do some collecting and smart shopping. I also have a few older lids laying around I can attack. Now to get some spare cash to get a good starting supply of AA. Thanks for the help, Im hoping to post up some progress in the near future.

Originally Posted by lsabourin

Moto, your stuff looks great so far. Ditto with Brad though. Not too sure where you are located but large surface stores like WalMart, Canadian Tire, etc sells really cheap baseball helmets and street hockey goalie masks. I use those for testing paints and wacky effects first. Like Brad says plates are great. You can also check with your city workers, they sometimes have left over street signs and panels that are blank. But paint, paint, paint, paint........

L

[yardartnut]

Your looking good on the practice sheets....I see some great control in some of the strokes ..........
also welcome ...glad to have ya...we have so many come in here I forget who all at times I have or havent welcomed so if I missed it sorry.

some other places for materials..go to your local body shops, small engine repairs etc and see if ya can get some junk parts [doors, tanks, fender etc] ya can work with even if with the dings you can get some good surface to play with..........
go by some paint shops and most of them have to pay to get rid of bits of left over paints......even an oz...goes a long way in an Abrush....

[KwitcherBitchin]

Ditto what Ms Peanut said and to add to what L said. If you have a local "Sign Shop" in your area they may have some scrap materials they are throwing away also. That's were I got my first practice materials at. Wherever you get them from, make sure to let them know what you need them for. This way you can build some PR (Public Relations), getting your name out in your area so if everything works out you may make a little money on the side..........................Kwit

[Neder/Brit]

Moxoguy nice looking practice sheets. But if I was you I would not run before I can crawl. What am I saying I,m still sucking my thumb as far as airbrushing goes. So all I will say is welcome and good luck with your A/B